Weather and shock proof switch casing with insertable key switch operating member

ABSTRACT

A switch structure including a pair of electrical switches that are arranged so that when one of the pair of switches is closed the other is open. Each of the pair of switches has an actuator for changing the electrical state of the switch. The actuators are displaced in unison by a bridge member that bridges across the actuators. The pair of electrical switches and the bridge member are disposed within an inner housing. The inner housing is enclosed within an outer housing that has a mounting flange coextensive with an exterior surface thereof. An operating pin is insertable through the inner housing and the outer housing through aligned holes so that when the operating pin is inserted, the bridge member and the actuators are displaced causing a change of the electrical state of each of the pair of switches. The operating pin has a ring on an enlarged portion of one end thereof for providing ease of access.

United States Patent Omohundro 1 Mar. 21, 1972 [72] Inventor: Paul H. Omohundro, 1131 Barker Street,

Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626 [22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1970 [21] Appl. NO.: 67,348

[52] U.S. Cl. ..200/168 G, 200/44, 200/153 LA [51] Int. Cl ..H0lh 9/04, HOlh 13/06 [58] Field of Search ..200/168 G, 153 LA, 61.59, 61.66, 200/44, 172 A; 310/51 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,257,517 6/1966 Sedley ..200/44 3,476,902 11/1969 Baldwin ...200/168 A 3,396,294 8/1968 Makino ..310/51 2,842,644 7/1958 Korsgreu, Sr.. ...200/168 G 3,270,221 8/1966 Shaffer ..310/51 Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer Assistant ExaminerRobert A. Vanderhye Attorney-Nienow & Frater [57] ABSTRACT A switch structure including a pair of electrical switches that are arranged so that when one of the pair of switches is closed the other is open. Each of the pair of switches has an actuator for changing the electrical state of the switch. The actuators are displaced in unison by a bridge member that bridges across the actuators. The pair of electrical switches and the bridge member are disposed within an inner housing. The inner housing is enclosed within an Outer housing that has a mounting flange co-extensive with 'an exterior surface thereof. An operating pin is insertable through the inner housing and the outer housing through aligned holes so that when the operating pin is inserted, the bridge member and the actuators are displaced causing a change of the electrical state of each of the pair of switches. The operating pin has a ring on an enlarged portion of one end thereof for providing ease of access.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENTEnmzl 1512 v SHEET 1 UP 2 REL.

INVENTOR PAUL H. OMOHUNDRO ATTORNFYS WEATHER AND SHOCK PROOF SWITCH CASING WITH INSERTABLE KEY SWITCH OPERATING MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a switch which is reliable under even the most adverse weather conditions and under extreme shock and vibration. A related object is to provide such a switch in a readily producible and inexpensively producible form.

While the invention has broader applications, it is particularly suited for use in exposed locations aboard ship or on offshore installations where it is exposed to salt air and spray and where its use in special protective or emergency circuitry requires actual physical removal and attachment of an actuating mechanism. This latter requirement may foreclose use of conventional sealing techniques in which the actuator is operated through a pliant sealing cover or the like. When an element of the actuating mechanism must be capable of actual separation from the switch, preventing entry of salty, humid air or spray is more difficult. One object of the invention is to provide a switch construction which does not require that the atmosphere and spray be completely excluded to assure reliable operation.

The preferred unit includes two, simultaneously actuated single pole, single throw switches having one common terminal to permit them to be connected in series or in parallel. One is normally closed and the other is normally open. That arrangement permits testing in both the open and closed condition without changing the electrical condition of the remainder of the circuit of which the switches form a part.

The object in that preferred embodiment is to actuate both switches simultaneously with a completely removable actuating element and to minimize risk of failure caused by entry of foreign matter without need to seal all openings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention utilizes a housing arrangement which forms a labyrinth from the entry opening for its removable actuator to the working elements of the switch. These working elements are sealed against the entry of moisture by conventional sealing means and the invention makes this possible and feasible by the use of movable elements in its labyrinth housing. The invention takes advantage of the noncorrosive nature of plastics in that it is arranged so that its housing parts may be formed of plastic. The invention can be practiced successfully in metal but its ability to utilize the noncorrosive property of plastic and the lubricity of plastics is one of its features.

Another of the attributes of the invention in preferred form is a resilient mounting of its inner housing within its outer housing so that vibration and minor misalignment are not problems.

A dual switch structure is provided having an outer housing with two aligned holes formed in a pair of opposite walls thereof. An inner housing is disposed within the outer housing. The inner housing has a first wall, a second wall and a third wall. A bore is provided in the inner housing through the first wall and the third wall. A switch assembly is disposed within the inner housing that has a first electrical state and a second electrical state. A bridge member is disposed on the switch assembly for changing the electrical state of the switch assembly. An operating pin assembly is insertable through the two aligned holes in the pair of opposite walls in the outer housing and through the bore in the inner housing for displac' ing the bridge member for changing the electrical state of the switch assembly.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with reference to following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a pictorial view of the dual actuated switch of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an outer housing taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the dual actuated switch;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an inner housing taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a switch mount taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a bridge member taken along the line 66 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the assembled dual actuated switch shown in the exploded view of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts, there is shown in FIG. 1 a pictorial view of a dual actuated switch of the present invention having an outer housing 12. The housing has a mounting flange 14 on the exterior thereof. The flange has a plurality of holes 16 through which bolts (not shown) or other securing devices may be inserted.

The outer housing 12 is hollow and box-shaped as illustrated in the sectional view in FIG. 2. The mounting flange 14 is illustrated as having a concave surface to allow the outer housing 12 to be mounted to a cylindrical shaped object. However, it should be understood that the mounting flange 14 can have substantially any desired shape.

In alignment with one another through opposite walls of the outer housing 12 are formed two holes 18 through which an operating pin assembly 20 may be inserted. The assembly 20 includes a ring 22 that is disposed on a flange 24. The ring has ends 26 that are straight and extend radially from the flange 24. Thus formed, the ring is large enough to provide ease of access thereto and the straight ends 26 prevent it from being rotated. Rotation of the ring is prevented when the straight ends make physical contact with the flange 14.

Referring now to the exploded view of the dual actuated switch in FIG. 3, there is illustrated an inner housing 40 disposed within the outer housing 12. The inner housing 40 has three side walls 42a, 42b and 420 and a bottom wall 44. The opposite side walls 42a and 42c are bored at 46. The bore 46 preferably communicates with the side wall 42b of the inner housing 40 in the sense that the inner surface of wall 42b is partially cut away or grooved to form a track by which pin direction is guided toward the bore in the opposite wall. The bore provides an opening through which the operating pin assembly 20 can be inserted. Consequently, the bore 46 should have an inside diameter sufficient to provide passage of the operating pin assembly 20. Furthermore, having a bore 46 that communicates with the side wall 42b provides a larger contacting surface area of the inner housing 40 with the operating pin assembly 20 and permits use of thinner wall sections at walls 42a and 42c.

Disposed within the inner housing 40 is a switch assembly 50 including a switch mount 52, a pair of switches 58a and 58b and a pair of pliable covers or boots 64a and 64b. The switch mount 52 has a pair of cylindrical wells 54 formed therein as illustrated in the sectional view of FIG. 5. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the cylindrical wells 54 do not extend entirely through the switch mount 52. A pair of apertures 56 are provided in the switch mount 52 that are in axial alignment with the pair of cylindrical wells 54 and have a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of cylindrical wells 54.

Switches 58a and 58b each have an actuating member 60a and 60b, respectively, which is disposed within a respectively associated one of cylindrical wells 54 in the switch mount 52. The actuating members 60a and 60b are slidably mounted within a pair of threaded guides 62a and 62b. The actuating members 60a and 60b, and some of each of the threaded guides 62a and 62b, protrude or extend through the pair of apertures in the switch mount 52. Threaded onto the threaded guides 62a and 62b are a pair of moisture tight, pliable boots 64a and 64b.

Each of the pair of switches 58a and 58b has a set of terminals 66a and 66b respectively to which electrical wires can be soldered or otherwise affixed. The electrical wires are contained in a cable 68 which extends through a hole 67 in a plate 69 and through a hole 47 in the inner housing 40 to the terminals. After the pair of switches has been inserted into the pair of cylindrical wells 54, and the electrical wires of the cable have been affixed to the set of terminals 66a and 66b, the terminals 66a and 66b may be covered with a suitable pitch (not shown) or other insulating material to prevent any adverse affects due to moisture. Also, the insulating material may cover the end of the pair of wells 54 to prevent moisture from entering.

The lower plate 69 is multilayered. The lower layer 69a, like the mechanical bridge and inner and outer housing, is made of smooth surfaced plastic which does not corrode in salt atmosphere or water. The upper layer is-formed of an elastomeric material which is resilient and to which the inner housing is bonded. In the preferred form illustrated, the layer 69b is formed of air curing adhesive which is coated on the lower layer just prior to assembly with the inner and outer housings. When the layer is cured it effects a resilient bond between the lower layer 69a and the two housings whereby the inner housing 40 is mounted resiliently on the outer housing 12.

A bridge member 70 is slidably mounted over the switch assembly 50 which it straddles so that the bridge member 70 may slide in the direction of the switches 58a and 58b. The bridge member is made of high lubricity, smooth plastic. It has side walls 72a, 72b and 72c that are integral with an end wall 74 as further illustrated in the sectional view of FIG. 6. The end wall 74 of the bridge member 70 is illustrated as having a convex outer surface and substantially flat or straight inner surface. Also, the bridge member 70 has an outside dimension across the side walls 72a and 720 sufficient to permit ease of sliding of the bridge member 70 within the inner housing 40 and it has an inner dimension between the side walls 72a and 72b so that it can easily straddle the switch mount 52.

operationally, the operating pin assembly 20 is inserted in the two holes 18 in the outer housing 12 (i.e. and through the bore 46 in the inner housing 40. When the operating pin assembly 20 is inserted into the bore 46 in the inner housing 40, the force of the operating pin assembly 20 on the concave outer surface of the top wall 74 of the bridge member 70 causes the bridge member 70 to be displaced in a camming action in the direction of the switch assembly 50. As the bridge member 70 is displaced, the actuating members 60a and 60b are displaced to change the electrical state of each of the pair of switches 58a and 58b.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a sectional view of an assembled dual actuated switch illustrated in the exploded view of FIG. 3. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the actuating members 600 and 60b terminate in a bell-shaped end 61a and 61b at the interior of switches 58a and 58b, respectively. Also, each of these switches includes a pair of reeds which are insulated from one another and which extend to the exterior of the switch to a pair of terminals. The reeds of switch 580 are designated 63a and the reeds of switch 58b are designated 63b. The terminals of switch 58a are numbered 66a and the terminals of switch 58b are numbered 66b. The reeds extend in parallel from the terminal end of the cylindrical switch housings toward the bell-shaped actuator. They are separated by an elastomeric material.

The circuit through each switch is completed by bridging across its reeds. The bridging member in each case is a ring of conductive metal formed with an outwardly extending, encompassing flange. In each case the ring is generally cylindrical except that the central opening tapers to larger diameter at its flanged end. The central opening of the bridging member is large enough to accommodatethe ends of the switch reeds provided that they are squeezed together against the bias of the elastomeric material that separates them. The ends of the reeds are enlarged so that the bridging member can be forced over them and removed without interference.

In both switches the flange of the bridging member is sandwiched between the outer margins of the bell-shaped actuator and a washer. The actuator bridging member and washer are forced toward the actuator end of the switch by a trapped, coiled, compression spring. The bridging member and washer and spring of switch 58a are designated a, 84a and 86a, respectively. The cylindrical portion of bridging member 800 is designated 820. These elements cooperate with the bellshaped end 61a of actuator 60a. In switch 58b, the bell-shaped end 61b of actuator 60b rests against one side of the flange of bridging member 80b. Spring 86b forces washer 84b against the other side of the flange.

The two switches differ only in the direction in which their bridging members are installed. In the normally open switch 58a the cylindrical portion 62a extends toward the actuator into its bell-shaped end. Bias spring 86a urges it away from contact with reeds 63a. The cylindrical portion 62b of bridging member 60b of switch 58b extends away from the actuator 60b and toward the reeds 63b which it surrounds. As best shown in FIG. 7, when the switch is actuated with the key the cylindrical portion 62a of switch 58a is forced over reeds 63a. Also, the cylindrical portion 62b of switch 58b is forced down around the shanks of the reeds 53b out of engagement with their enlarged ends.

operationally, when the operating pin assembly 20 is inserted through the inner housing 40, the mechanical bridge member 70 is displaced in the direction of the pair of actuating members 60a and 60b. When the actuating members 6011 and 60b are displaced in response to displacement of the bridge member 70, the electrical bridging member 800 interconnects the reeds 63a. Also, when the operating pin assembly 20 is inserted in the inner housing 40, the displacement of the mechanical bridge member 70 displaces the actuating member 60b to displace the electrical bridging member 80b away from the enlarged end of the pair of reeds 63b to break the electrical bridge connection between them.

When the operating pin assembly 20 is removed from the inner housing 40, the action is reversed.

Referring now to the operating pin assembly 20, the operating pin assembly is constructed so that it cannot become accidentally dislodged or removed from the dual actuated switch. The operating pin assembly 20 has a cylindrical barrel which has substantially the same outside diameter as the diameter of the holes 18 in the outer housing 12 and the bore 46 in the inner housing 40. The barrel 90 has a coaxial well 92 which opens on the right side as 'viewed in FIG. 7 (not shown). The enlarged portion 24 on the barrel 90 prevents the operating pin assembly from further insertion into the dual actuated switch. Within the coaxial well'92 is disposed a plunger 94 with an enlarged end 96 having substantially the same diameter as the coaxial well 92 so that a pair of balls 98 are urged radially outward in a pair of holes 100 in the barrel 90. When the balls 98 are urged radially outward, the operating pin assembly is prevented from being removed. Tension can be provided in the barrel 90 by a suitable spring (not shown) to maintain the plunger 94 in position to urge the balls 98 radially outward. To remove the operating pin assembly 20, a button 102 on the end of the barrel 90 is pushed which displaces the plunger 94 to release any force being applied to the balls 98 While the salient features of the present invention have been illustrated and described with respect to a particular embodiment, it should be readily apparent that modifications can be made.

I claim:

1. A switch comprising an outer housing and an inner housing disposed within the outer housing;

said housings being formed with aligned bores of size to accommodate insertion of a key through both bores;

a reciprocally movable member in the inner housing movaa switch responsive to movement of said reciprocally movable member from between said first and second positions to change its state; and

a key of size to fit within said aligned bores and of size to force said reciprocally movable member from first to second position;

said inner container comprising spaced side walls, said switch being disposed between them; and

said reciprocally movable member comprising a pair of spaced side walls joined by an end wall movable between said first and second positions;

one of said pair of side walls of the inner housing and reciprocally movable member being mounted astride the other.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 in which said inner container is provided with a lower side wall and is open at the side opposite, and in which the side walls of the reciprocally movable member are bridged by an upper side wall.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 in which said inner container is resiliently mounted upon said outer container.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 in which said switch comprises two switches having individual reciprocally movable actuators mounted to be engaged and reciprocally moved as an incident to movement of said reciprocally movable member.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 in which said outer housing comprises a flange extending in a plane parallel to the axis of said bores; and in which said key comprises a shaft and a holding ring pivotally mounted on the shaft and of size exceeding the separation of the axis of the shaft and said flange. 

1. A switch comprising an outer housing and an inner housing disposed within the outer housing; said housings being formed with aligned bores of size to accommodate insertion of a key through both bores; a reciprocally movable member in the inner housing movable from a first position in line with said bores to a second position out of alignment with them; means for biasing said reciprocally movable member to said first position; a switch responsive to movement of said reciprocally movable member from between said first and second positions to change its state; and a key of size to fit within said aligned bores and of size to force said reciprocally movable member from first to second position; said inner container comprising spaced side walls, said switch being disposed between them; and said reciprocally movable member comprising a pair of spaced side walls joined by an end wall movable between said first and second positions; one of said pair of side walls of the inner housing and reciprocally movable member being mounted astride the other.
 2. The invention defined in claim 1 in which said inner container is provided with a lower side wall and is open at the side opposite, and in which the side walls of the reciprocally movable member are bridged by an upper side wall.
 3. The invention defined in claim 1 in which said inner container is resiliently mounted upon said outer container.
 4. The invention defined in claim 3 in which said switch comprises two switches having individual reciprocally movable actuators mounted to be engaged and reciprocally moved as an incident to movement of said reciprocally movable member.
 5. The invention defined in claim 4 in which said outer housing comprises a flange extending in a plane parallel to the axis of said bores; and in which said key comprises a shaft and a holding ring pivotally mounted on thE shaft and of size exceeding the separation of the axis of the shaft and said flange. 